Ella Almaguer Flores

Fiery, strong-willed and unapologetically frank to the end, Ella Almaguer Flores was surrounded by family as she entered her heavenly reward on June 5, 2025, at 6:05 pm.

Ella was born on March 20, 1934, in what was commonly referred to as the “ Mexican Quarters”, located in the present-day Cove neighborhood of Orange, Texas. She was born a middle child in a family of ten children to Torivio Almaguer and Ignacia Abrego Almaguer. Ella, like many of the children of Mexican American immigrants in the Orange, Texas area at that time, was delivered by her grandmother, a local mid-wife.

After graduating from Little Cypress High School, Ella worked as a waitress for Little Mexico Restaurant in Orange. Ella was an outgoing, popular young lady who served as a role model to many of the youth of her neighborhood. She worked hard to help support her family and would share her earnings with her younger siblings.

Ella met the love of her life, Roberto Cruz Flores, via her older sister, who was dating Roberto’s brother. Ella would often recall their first near meeting when Roberto rode his red bicycle to his brother’s house to visit. When Ella saw Roberto riding up the road, she was intrigued but ran into the house to hide because she was too embarrassed to meet him at that moment. She told Louis his brother was outside, and Louis told her to go meet him. Ella responded by saying, “He came to see you, not me” and she refused to meet Roberto. Later that week, Ella went to a dance at the invitation of Roberto’s twin sister Anne. When Ella walked into the dance hall, Roberto quickly approached her and asked her to dance. Ella, whom Roberto affectionately called “Turtle”, shared only one dance that night, but they shared many more in their nearly 60-year love affair.

Ella and Roberto started their family in Silsbee, Texas where she was a homemaker who babysat for families in the community. There were always several children in the Flores household during the day and to the end, Ella fondly recalled the many children she had the privilege of helping to raise. In 1971, when Roberto and Ella’s youngest child turned four, Ella started working for the All Souls Catholic Church Day Care Center (presently all Faiths Day Care). She worked there until the family moved to the north end of Beaumont, Texas where they bought their first home in December of 1973.

Ella continued as a homemaker in Beaumont where she made her family her priority. She volunteered as team mom for youth baseball teams, president of both local and regional PTA, den mother of local Cub Scout and Boy Scout troops, advisor for the Catholic Youth Organization, Mentor for the Ben and Julie Rogers “I have a Dream” Program, and numerous other city and state committees and non-profit organizations. Ella volunteered her time to contribute to the community, continue to positively affect the youth, and to enjoy shared hobbies and activities with her children and husband. Ella served as a positive and supportive adult in the lives of many children in the north end of Beaumont. For many years, scores of adults who benefited from her mentorship would often recount stories of the love and support Ella showed them. She made a lasting impression on the youth she encountered.

Ella went on to work in the Beaumont Independent School District in junior high and high school cafeterias where she continued to positively affect youth. She also worked in the Kroger Deli on Phelan Boulevard when it first opened. Ella then found her true calling when she went to work for the Beaumont State Center (Currently Spindletop) as a therapy technician working with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her patience, kindness, and compassion were a blessing to countless children and adults in our community who live with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

One accomplishment Ella was most proud of was her ability to earn a Class A Commercial Driver’s License to drive a bus to transport clients to and from activities. This was a major feat for Ella as she had not obtained her Class C Driver’s license until her early 30’s! At 4’11” and 87 pounds, Ella was a sight to behold as she handled the bus like a boss!

Ella was a founding member of the Hispanic Community for Progress which hosted Beaumont’s first Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Riverfront Park in the early 1980s. Ella was also a long-time leader in the local and regional League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) organization serving as a founder and president of LULAC Local Council 4410. She was also the Founder and Director of “Mi Tierra Linda”, a Mexican Folklorico Dance group that performed throughout the state. She loved to teach our community about the vibrant Mexican dance culture and could often be found dancing at festivals, schools, and community events in Southeast Texas.

Ella was a founding member of the Avenues Neighborhood Association as well as the Avenues Citizens on Patrol. Ella and her husband Roberto were instrumental in addressing crime issues and improving the quality of life for citizens in that neighborhood. They dedicated countless evenings patrolling their beloved Avenues neighborhood and were directly involved in the arrests and convictions of multiple armed robbery suspects and drug dealers.

Ella was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to so many. She was her children’s fierce protector, passionate advocate, shoulder to cry on, and shining example of how to endure life’s hardships with tenacity and grace. She loved each of her children equally but differently, always meeting them where they were and giving to each what they needed in the manner they needed it. Ella was the “fun” mom but wasn’t above throwing a well-aimed shoe at one of her children when they got out of line! When angered, Ella had the aggression of a Rottweiler trapped in the body of a Chihuahua! When she lost her left leg to an amputation in 2004, it was jokingly said that the loss of her leg only made it a fair fight. She always said what was on her mind- personal feelings be damned! She loved to dance, listen to music, watch Wheel of Fortune, and was an avid social media user interacting daily on Facebook. She would often excuse herself for the evening because she had to “do her work” communicating with FB friends and scrolling her feed. She loved taking pictures but rarely smiled for them. She loved her Dunkin Donuts decaf (two sugars, two creams, and a straw) and her Dairy Queen milkshakes! She was a fashionist who always observed and commented on what her family wore and would then buy similar outfits IF they met her approval. She loved the New Orleans Saints and any team that was playing against the Dallas Cowboys.

Ella was preceded in death by her beloved husband Roberto Cruz Flores, her parents, Torivio and Ignacia Abrego Almaguer, and several siblings and family members including her beloved Chihuahua-Miniature Pincher mix, Hachi.

Left to cherish her memories are Ella’s children Jeanine and Steve Howard, Mary Katherine and Anthony Pacella, and Lisa and Rob Flores, Jr.

Grandchildren and great-grandchildren include Steven and Jessica Naples and their children Poe, Amelia, and Lucas, Aften and Jordan Nauman, Amanda and Thomas Reed, Jr. and their sons Thomas, III and Rhett, Dylan and Hayley Howard and their daughters Kylee and Gracelynn, Cody Howard, Anthony Pacella, II, Anna Pacella, John Wilson and his partner Preston O’Brien, Jared Wilson, Gabby Flores, and Livy Flores.